Hyd Brothers, 14-04-2014, Ramaseva Mandali, FHS, B'lore

[prahalad_rag]

Vocal: Hyderabad Brothers
Violin: S. Varadarajan (not Embar Kannan as the schedule says)
Mridanga: Neyveli Venkatesh
Ghata: V. Suresh (?)

Song List:
1. Ninnu Kori - Vasantha - Varna
2. Raghu Nayaka - Hamsadhwani (S)
3. Annapurne Visalakshi - Sama (R)
4. Naradamuni - Pantuvarali - (R, N @ Narayana namamulanu, S)
5. Idi Samayamura - Chayanatta
6. Ekkalattilum - Natakurinji
7. Ra Ra Rajeeva Lochana - Mohana - (R, N@pallavi line, S, T)
Left when the speech started.

Meh concert! Marred probably by both the brothers having cold. Both were constantly coughing and blowing their noses. The only moment that stood out for me was when one of the brothers sang a long swaraprasthara in Pantuvarali without hitting shadja and panchama notes. I thought that was done pretty well.
"Idi Samayamura" is a new kriti to me. I was surprised to find that it is in a vivadi raga. Honestly, did not sound like that at all when it was presented.
Varadarajan, who is usually at his brilliant best when accompanying Sanjay, was a bit of a let down yesterday. I thought he missed an akshara or two a couple of times in the Mohana kriti. His Pantuvarali alapana was excellent though.
Mridanga and ghata accompaniments were competent. While playing the tani, the ghata artist was excellent. Something very attractive in the way a ghata sounds. I like it much better than khanjira.
I usually do not leave a concert until the percussionists finish playing after the mangalam, but this I could not stand. Left home disappointed.